East Haven Sergeant Injured In 2018 Explosion Honored With Plaque

EAST HAVEN, CT — A former East Haven police sergeant who was forced to retire after he was injured in a 2018 explosion has been honored with a plaque from a local nonprofit.

On May 2, 2018, Sgt. Anthony Rybaruk and his fellow South Central Regional SWAT team members were responding to a domestic violence call in North Haven when a barn on the property exploded.

Read more: North Haven Explosion: 9 Officers Injured After Long Standoff

Rybaruk "took the brunt of" the explosion and suffered the most severe injuries out of all the SWAT team members, said Robert Deko, founder of nonprofit Our Community Hero's, Inc.

As a result of those injuries, Rybaruk, a husband and father of two children, retired from the force in December 2019.

Read more: East Haven Police Sergeant Injured In House Explosion Retires

And on Feb. 1, Deko's nonprofit surprised Rybaruk with a wooden American flag plaque to honor his service and sacrifice.

Deko knew Rybaruk for years before the explosion — they played sports in high school together, attended Southern Connecticut State University university together and both became police officers after college — and he said the plaque acted as a way to let Rybaruk know the community hasn't forgotten his service.

"We wanted to honor him for the sacrifices that both he and his family have gone through and are currently going through," Deko told Patch.

Our Community Heros aims to recognize — and assist — anyone committed to bettering society and their families, Deko said, which included Rybaruk.

So, Deko ordered the flag from a local officer who makes and sells plaques.

Rybaruk was "speechless" when he gave it to him, Deko said, and he told him he would put the plaque right next to a letter he received from then-President Donald Trump following the incident.

Our Community Heros relies on public donations to support its mission of helping the community, Deko said. More information on the organization can be found on its website here.